Friday, June 12
As India pushes for a series-levelling victory against England at The Oval, former coach Ravi Shastri advised Indian bowlers to target specific dents on the pitch for maximum impact. Shastri highlighted the increased grass cover compared to earlier matches, making conditions challenging for England. Mel Jones noted the unpredictable bounce caused by the surface.
South Africa Champions secured a dominant nine-wicket victory over Pakistan Champions in the World Championship of Legends final, propelled by AB de Villiers' stunning century. Off the field, league owner Harshit Tomar proposed to presenter Karishma Kotak live on air, creating a viral moment.
Yashasvi Jaiswal rebounded from a mid-series slump in England, scoring a century in the final Test after a conversation with his mentor, Zubin Bharucha. Bharucha identified technical flaws in Jaiswal's stance and bat alignment, advising him to adjust his approach and play with a dominant, gritty mindset. This guidance helped Jaiswal rediscover his form, culminating in a match-winning innings.
Yashasvi Jaiswal's resilient 118 in the second innings at The Oval propelled India to a total of 396 against England. The emotional knock, his second century of the series, was witnessed by his parents for the first time. Jaiswal expressed gratitude for performing in front of them, marking the moment with a celebratory gesture.
Dinesh Karthik believes spin bowling could be key for India on day four as England aims to chase down 374 at The Oval. Former coach Ravi Shastri acknowledged the surface favors quicker play, requiring England to bat exceptionally well.
Varun Aaron lauded Washington Sundar's impactful performance in the England Test series, highlighting his 284 runs, including a century and multiple fifties, alongside seven wickets. Sundar's crucial half-century in the fifth Test at The Oval contributed to India's imposing total. Aaron emphasized the importance of consistent opportunities in Sundar's success, praising his ability to both save matches and accelerate scoring.
Graham Gooch emphasizes the India-England Test series' importance for Test cricket's future, urging the ICC to support financially weaker nations to prevent the format's decline. He praises the series' quality and India's young players, highlighting Shubman Gill's captaincy and Stokes' crucial role for England. Gooch acknowledges on-field tensions as a natural part of competitive cricket.
Sunil Gavaskar lauded Shubman Gill's impressive 754 runs, acknowledging it surpassed his own achievements. Gavaskar presented Gill with a special shirt and autographed cap. The event followed Gill's tactical brilliance with Mohammed Siraj, dismissing Zak Crawley. Gavaskar also reminisced about his lucky jacket from the Gabba Test.
